*President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, giving the country until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday (April 7) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face large-scale U.S. attacks that could cripple bridges, power plants, and other critical infrastructure, USA Today reports. The threat comes amid skyrocketing fuel prices, and concerns that such strikes could be considered war crimes.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump wrote, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
Many of his supporters interpret this statement not as a literal threat to human life, but as a prediction that infrastructure—including power and clean water—would be devastated, effectively setting the land back to a pre-modern state.
Trump’s warning follows Monday’s remarks at the White House, where he said, “Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night… every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again.”
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The threats, which included prior statements about taking out “the entire country,” signal a major escalation in the ongoing conflict. Experts caution that targeting civilian infrastructure could provoke widespread anger among Iranian civilians and carry serious legal ramifications under international law. Many Americans are worried that such threats could trigger retaliatory attacks on U.S. soil, either from Iranian-backed groups or individuals living in the country, potentially putting civilians at risk at home.
Trump’s ultimatum is tied to renewed U.S. pressure over Easter Sunday for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for global oil. Iran has blocked the passage since the war began on February 28, following U.S. and Israeli military action, as part of an effort to drive up oil prices worldwide.
The economic effects are already severe. Gasoline prices in the U.S. hit an average of $4.14 per gallon on Tuesday, with California averaging $5.93. At the start of the year, the nationwide average was $2.82.
With the 8 p.m. deadline approaching, the world faces uncertainty over whether diplomacy can prevent what could become a devastating escalation. The next hours may determine the trajectory of both regional stability and global economic security.
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